Signature-fold-centering device



M. CHRISTENSEN. SIGNATURE FOLD CENTERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13, I919- Patented Aug; 17, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN CHRISTENSEN, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO CHRISTENSENMACHINE 00., 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

i SIGNATURE-FOLD-OENTERING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed neeemb ris, 1919. Serial No. 344,698.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN CHRISTENSEN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Racine, in the couutylof Racine and State of Visconsin,have invented new and useful Improvements in Si gnature-Fold-CenteringDevices, of which the following is a description, reference being hadtothe accompany are a part of this spec ing drawings, which iication. y

The present invention relates to CBItHJD new and useful. improvements insignature fold centering devices for boolcstitching machines and has forone of its objects to provide means for centering the folds ofsignatures or groups of signatures uponthe saddle sothat the same willbe properly positioned to the signature stitcher.

1 Anotherobject of this invention is to provide means for guiding thesignatures as they are fed to the stitching mechanism. a

A further object of the present invention is to provide means forguiding signatures along the stitching machine saddle, for centering thefolds ofthe signatures upon the saddle and for frictionallyvholding thesignatures during the stitching operation.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds my invention resides in the novel constructioncombination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the 7 herein(:lescribed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest model have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of a book-stitching machine andone stitcher mechanism with my invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a lan view of my invention, parts being bro e11 away and insection and the said view being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fi 3 is a view looking at the rear end of the signature engaging portionof my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing the numeral5 designates generally a stitcher removablv and adjustably carried bythe machine frame (5, i an inverted V signature'supporting saddletraversing the stitcher 5 and adapted to have groupsof signatures 8 fedthere along to be stitched by the stitcher 5; and 9 designates generallymy novel form of signature fold centering, guiding and holding means.

The signature fold centering member consists of aninverted V saddle oruide 10 adapted to be disposed over the saddle 7 and having a flaredleading end 11 for guiding the signatures 8 between it and the saddle,and said member is secured to the lower end of a guide rod or bar 12freely vertically movably in a pair of alined arms 13 formed on asupporting member .14 secured to either the stitcher 5 or the frame 6 bysuitable fastening means 15. p

The rod 12 is capable of free vertical movement and the member all) isheld from engagement with the saddle 7 in the event that a signature 8is not disposed. between the end of said saddle by means of an adjustable stop or set screw 16 carried by the upper end 17 of said rod andengageable with the frame 6 when the member-1O is at its entire lowerlimit of movement. Thus it will be seen that the signatures 8 which arefed along the saddle 7 by suitable feeding mechanism, not shown, areguided beneath the member: 10 by the flaring end 11 and that said member10 has a slight frictional engagement therewith by reason of its weightand. the member 10 being shaped to correspond with the shape ofthesaddle will een ter the folds 8 of the signatures with re spect to thepeak or apex 7 of the saddle and thus properly position the signaturesto the stitcher. By reason of the weight of the member 10 engaging thesignatiu'es and holding the same between it and the saddle, thesignatures S will be held substantially firm while being stitched butthis frictional engagement is not sufficient to prevent the readymovement of the signatures from the stitcher by the feeding mechanism.

T o assist in the positioning of the signatures and to prevent too greata frictional engagement ofthe member 10 with the signatures I provide aguide roll 18 journally mounted between a pair of up struck space earsor lugs 19 formed at the rear end of the member 10. The roll guide '18is pro vided with a V channel shaped to correspond with the V of themember 10 and the saddle 7. As best shown in Fig. 3 the guide roll 20engages with the signatures through the aperture formed between thespace ears l9 and thus provides means for guiding the signatures andreducing the frictional engagement between the member 10 and saidsignatures.

The top bar 6, against which the adjusting screw 16 engages, is capableof vertical adjustment to adapt the stitehers 5 for differentthicknesses of books, thereby simultaneously djusting my improved foldcentering device, as will be obvious. As the adjustable feature of thebar 6 forms no important part of this invention, the manner of V thesaddle,

, ersing the operating the same has not been shown.

"From the foregoing description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing it will be readily apparent that I provide simplebut efficient means for centering folds of signatures upon the saddlefor guiding the'sfignatures and for holding the signatures and in theirproper relation while being stitched.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a book-stitching machine, the combination with a stitcher and aninverted subtantially V-shaped signature supporting saddle traversingthe stitcher, of a freely vertically slidabl-y mounted rod mounted abovesaid saddle, and an inverted substan tially' V-shapefcl signature guideand fold centering member carried by the lower end of said rod anddisposed over the saddle to engage the folds of signatures passing alongsaid member having its forward end flared to guide the signaturestherebeneath. I v

.2111 a book-stitching machine, the com bination with a stitcher and aninverted substantially v shaped signature saddle travstitcher, of a rodvertically slidably' mounted above the saddle, an inverted substantiallyV-shaped signature guide and fold centering member carried by the lowerend of said rod and disposed over the saddle to engage the folds ofsignatures passing along the saddle, means on the forward end of saidmember for guiding signatures therebeneath, and means for at all timesretaining the apex of said member in longitudinal' alinement with theapex of the saddle.

3. In a book-stitching machine, the combination with a stitcher, aninverted substantially'V-shaped signature supporting saddle traversingthe stitcher, and the stitching machine frame, of a support mountedabove said saddle, a rod vertically slidably carried by the support, aninverted si'ibstantially V- shaped guide and fold centering membercarried by the lower end of said rod and disposed over the saddle toengage the folds of signatures passing therealong, a laterally directedportion carried by the upper end of said rod, and means carried by saidlaterally directed portion for engagement with the machine frame tolimit the downward movement of said rod and fold centering membercarried thereby.

4. I11 a book-stitching machine, the 00111- bination with a stitcher,and-an inverted V signature supporting saddle traversing the stltcher,of a support fixed jnxta-pose the stitcher, a rod vertically slidablycarried by the support, an inverted V signature. guide and foldcentering member fixed to the lower end of said rod and disposed overthe saddle to engage the folds of signatures passing along the saddle,said member having its forward end flared to guide the signaturestherebeneath, an annularly V channeled guide roll at the rear end ofsaid member for guiding the signatures, and means at the upper end ofsaid rod for limiting the downward movement of said member.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

MARTIN CHRISTENSEN.

